JOHN BARBATSULY

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Posted Sep. 11, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Posted Sep. 11, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

August 25, 1927 - September 8, 2013

Plattekill, NY

John Barbatsuly, 86, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family with his loyal dogs on his lap. After two years without her, John is finally dancing again with Georgia, his wife of 60 years.

John was born August 25, 1927 in Plattekill to Theodore and Katina Barbatsuly and helped his family run Brookside Farm where he met the love of his life as a young teenager. As one of the early families of Plattekill, John attended the local one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Wallkill High School, which was housed in the current middle school building. John proudly served in the US Army in Germany in 1944, graduated from Cornell University, and taught at New Paltz High School. He married in 1951 and lived locally for four years. He changed to a career of large-scale construction, managing projects including building the NYS Thruway, Idlewild (JFK) Airport, the 1964 World's Fair grounds, and many city highways, bridges, and parks. He made friends everywhere he went, including when they moved to Queens, and then West Hempstead, Long Island, yet he always kept ties to his childhood friends. When he retired, they returned to Plattekill in 1987 and built their dream home uphill from the farmhouse where he grew up. Two daughters made their homes on the "Barbatsuly Compound" as well.

John loved his enormous vegetable garden, always sharing his abundant bounty with all his friends, and virtually everyone who stopped by. He had a large collection of tractors for the property, but more often could be found giving tractor rides to all of the children who visited through the years. He was an avid sportsman and a charter member of the Plattekill Rod and Gun Club. He loved nature so much that he donated land to the Hudson Valley Wildlife Fund so that it would be preserved for generations to enjoy. He shared many hours fishing and hunting with his children and grandchildren, and those catches provided many feasts at the dinner table. John was a lifetime member of the Plattekill Fire Police and participated in every parade. He volunteered at church whenever possible and donated a Christmas tree from his property every year. He went above and beyond to help people, always looking for ways to share his knowledge, skills, time, and tools he might have had in his vast basement stash. If there was a need, John jumped in. He will forever be remembered for his sense of humor, his generous spirit, and loving heart.

Surviving him are their children, Kathrine Gregory and husband Paul (NYC); Parise Northrop and husband John (Plattekill); Ted Barbatsuly and wife Annie (Long Beach, Long Island), and Denise Ackerly and husband Eric (Plattekill); adored grandchildren, Christopher Northrop and John and Elizabeth Ackerly (all of Plattekill); siblings Peter Barbatsuly (Albuquerque, NM) and Helen Paulson (Plattekill); and many loving nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 13th from 5-8pm at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh. A Trisagion service will take place at 6pm. Funeral service will take place on Saturday, September 14th, at 11:45am at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 19 Fullerton Ave., Newburgh, followed by burial at Friends Cemetery, 386 Old Mill Road, Plattekill.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Plattekill Fire Department, the Plattekill Rod and Gun Club, or your favorite charity.

To send a personal condolence or for further information, please visit www.Brooksfh.com or call 845-561-8300.